I am pleased to send you my Session Wrap Up e-newsletter. This
e-newsletter features events and legislative activities from the Session Week of
October 17, 2016.

If you find this e-newsletter useful, I invite you to visit my website
www.senatorscotthutchinson.com for more information about your state
government. If you do not wish to receive these e-newsletters, please click the
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"reply" directly to this e-mail.

Sincerely,

Scott

Senate Approves My Bill Clarifying Residency Status
for Military Service

Recognizing that military experience should be a benefit and not a deterrent
to those seeking government service, the Senate approved legislation I
introduced that clarifies residency status for those on active duty.

Senate Bill 1300 amends state law to ensure that that a person
remains a resident of municipality during active military service for the
purpose of satisfying a residency requirement for election or appointment to a
municipal office.

Currently, a gap in residency caused by active duty service may interfere
with that person’s ability to fulfill the proper residency requirements under
state law.

We must respect and honor the service of the men and women in our armed
forces. Active duty service should be recognized as an asset toward their
potential as elected officials and not a road block that precludes them from
office. This bill does that by maintaining their residency status for the period
that they are on active duty.

Senate Bill 1300 now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Senate Adopts My Resolution Honoring Forest Products
Industry

Recognizing that timber products and associated industries employ 60,000
Pennsylvanians and pump billions of dollars into the state economy annually,
the Senate adopted my Resolution on Monday designating the week of October
16-22 as “National Forest Products Week” in Pennsylvania.

As a member of the Pennsylvania Hardwoods Development Council, I have great
respect and appreciation for the men and women whose efforts make the wood and
paper products industry such a vibrant part of our state’s economy. The forest
products industry is made up of 2,100 separate businesses, with a presence in
every county of the Commonwealth.

National Forest Products Week is a way to remind the citizens of the
Commonwealth of the unique contributions that the forest products industry has
made to the history, texture, and quality of life of Pennsylvania.

Click for
audio and
video
of my remarks from the Senate Floor on National Forest Products Week in
Pennsylvania.

Local Government Committee Approves Sanctuary Cities
Bill

The Senate Local Government Committee, which I chair, endorsed legislation on
Wednesday that would prevent municipalities from hindering federal efforts to
deport illegal immigrants who pose a danger to Pennsylvania communities.
House Bill 1885 targets “sanctuary cities” that refuse to honor
detainer requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement for persons of
interest who are arrested by local authorities.

This is a basic safety issue. Under the bill we considered, governing bodies
such as counties or municipalities would be prohibited from adopting rules or
ordinances that contradict federal immigration policy. Municipalities that do
not enforce federal immigration policy would not be eligible for state grants
for law enforcement purposes and could be sued for negligence for releasing an
individual with a detainer that subsequently committed another crime.

The issue gained national attention when San Francisco resident Kathryn
Steinle was shot by Francisco Sanchez, an illegal immigrant from Mexico with
seven felony convictions who has been deported five times. Due to the
municipality’s policy not to report Sanchez’s incarceration to the appropriate
federal agency, he was promptly released just prior to Steinle’s murder.

The committee also approved two additional bills.

House Bill 297 would create the Release of Coroner and Medical
Examiner Information Act establishing parameters for when a coroner may release
a decedent’s name, cause and manner of death.

House Bill 2186 establishes uniform residential qualifications of
office for those who are seeking election or appointment to a municipally
elected office where recent military service may interfere with that person’s
ability to fulfill the proper residency requirements. The measure is the House
companion bill to
Senate Bill 1300, a measure I introduced that was unanimously
approved by the Senate on Tuesday.

Nine Bills Sent to Governor

Nine bills received final legislative approval this week and were sent to the
Governor’s desk for enactment into law.

House Bill 447 amends the Landlord and Tenant Act by adding
provisions for early termination of a lease if a tenant dies.

House Bill 683 eliminates Federal veterans’ disability payments and
State veterans’ benefits from the definition of income when determining a
claimant’s eligibility for the Property Tax Rent Rebate program.

Senate Bill 889 extends benefits to enforcement officers and
investigators of the Game Commission and the Fish and Boat Commission.

House Bill 1619 enacts the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Act
to develop a comprehensive process to allow physicians to become licensed in
multiple states and allow eligible licensed physicians in one state to treat
patients in other states via telemedicine.

House Bill 1734 provides a one-year extension of the continuing
professional education compliance deadlines for schools, teachers and
administrators.

House Bill 1841 and
House Bill 1842 address temporary permits issued to those seeking
to become a licensed perfusionist. A perfusionist is a certified medical
technician responsible for extracorporeal oxygenation of the blood during
open-heart surgery and for the operation and maintenance of equipment (as a
heart-lung machine) controlling it.

Senate Approves Legislation to Protect Responsible Gun
Owners

The Senate passed legislation on Monday to prevent municipalities from
targeting responsible gun owners with local firearms ordinances that are more
restrictive than existing state laws.

Senate Bill 1330 would allow an individual or organization to sue
to block an overly restrictive local firearms ordinance. In current practice,
gun owners who are accused of violating local ordinances often lack the time and
financial resources to engage in a lengthy and costly legal battle necessary to
overturn unconstitutional gun regulations at the local level.

The legislation restores the original intent of the Uniform Firearms Act,
which was designed to prevent municipalities from enacting their own ordinances.
Similar legislation was signed into law in 2014, but a state Supreme Court
ruling last year overturned the law based on procedural grounds that had nothing
to do with the content of the law.

Senate Bill 1330 was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Eight additional bills were approved by the Senate this week and sent to the
House for consideration.

House Bill 49 extends the death benefit that is currently available
to other emergency responders to members of the Pennsylvania Civil Air Patrol.
The bill returns to the House for concurrence on Senate amendments.

House Bill 869 requires those convicted of second-degree
misdemeanor, or higher, animal abuse to forfeit their animals to shelters or
other organizations dedicated to preventing animal cruelty. It also permits
courts to order similar forfeiture of animals upon conviction of a third-degree
animal abuse misdemeanor. The bill also incorporates a number of proposals to
prevent animal cruelty, including measures to prevent tethering dogs in unsafe
conditions, strengthen penalties for animal abusers and include horses under
Pennsylvania’s animal cruelty laws. The bill returns to the House for
concurrence on Senate amendments.

Senate Bill 976 amends the Wiretap Act to permit the use of
body-worn cameras by police officers.

Senate Bill 1271 addresses the school attendance of a child placed
in detention or shelter care.

Senate Bill 1313 amends the Guaranteed Energy Savings Act by adding
new definitions for “energy-related cost savings,” “energy savings company” and
“operating costs” and amends the definition of “energy conservation measure” to
clarify what costs are qualified under the act.